Foodology Feeding TherapyLess pressure at the table. More play with food.
The Say It & Play It Toolkit gives you 101 pressure-free ways to explore food, plus the exact words to use when your child refuses, gags, or says "yuck."
Get the toolkit for $11Tired of bribes, battles, and one-bite rules?
- "Just one bite" turns into a standoff.You ask nicely, then you bargain, then everyone leaves the table upset, and the food is still on the plate.
- You freeze when they gag or cry.In the moment, it's hard to know what to say that won't make things worse.
- Dessert deals stopped working.Rewards for bites can teach kids that the food must be bad if they need to be paid to eat it.
- Playing with food feels wrong.Most of us were told not to. But for a cautious eater, touching and exploring is how learning starts.
You're not doing anything wrong. You just need a different playbook, and the words to go with it.
How the toolkit works
Two halves of a calmer mealtime.
Make food exploration fun.
Games and activities matched to where your child is right now, from simply having food nearby to touching, smelling, and tasting it. No bites required.
Know exactly what to say.
Calm, ready-to-use words for the hard moments, encouragement that builds confidence without rewarding bites, and playful food names for every age.
No pressure. No bribes. No hiding food. When the table feels safe and food feels fun, curious kids are more willing to explore at their own pace.
Play it · 101 Ways to Make Food Fun
101 ways to explore food, step by step.
Activities are organized by the steps children move through on the way to eating a new food, so you can start where your child is comfortable today.
- ToleratesHide and Seek, Feed the Shark, Food Race
- InteractsPancake Pile-Up, Pinch the Pasta, Tea Time
- SmellsMystery Sniff Snack, Smell the Rainbow
- TouchesFood Painting, Food Tattoos, Spider Web Rescue
- TastesLip Painting, Taste Testing Party, Dip It
- EatsMini Food Buffet, Food Critic, Cooking Show
Plus activities outside the kitchen, food-themed board games, and 9 bonus printable bingo boards to make progress feel like a game.
Everyday supplies. Real learning.
Most activities use what's already in your kitchen: yogurt, pasta, fruit, cookie cutters, a ziplock bag. Each one builds comfort with how food looks, feels, and smells, which is what makes tasting possible later.
Say it · Three language guides
The right words for every mealtime moment.
What to Say Instead
Calm scripts for the hardest moments.
More than 50 gentle phrases for eight tough situations: refusing to come to the table, "I don't like that" before trying, gagging or crying, "yuck" comments, and more.
"Our job is to offer, your job is to choose."
50 Positive Things You Can Say at Mealtimes
Encouragement that isn't about bites.
Fifty phrases that notice effort, manners, curiosity, and helping, so your child feels successful at the table no matter how much they eat.
"You're really becoming a little food explorer."
Fun Ways to Talk About Food
Food names that match your child's age.
A developmental guide from infancy to age 11 and up, with playful names and sensory language for each stage.
What you get
101 Ways to Make Food Fun
14-page guide to activities for every food stage.
What to Say Instead
Gentle scripts for eight tough mealtime moments.
50 Positive Things You Can Say
Encouraging words that build confidence and connection.
Fun Ways to Talk About Food
Playful food names for every stage of development.
Bonus9 printable bingo boards for every food stage
Made for the grown-ups at the table
- Parents of picky or cautious eaters who are ready to drop the pressure
- Families who want mealtimes to feel connected instead of tense
- Teachers and childcare providers who share snack and lunch time with kids
- Feeding therapists, SLPs, and OTs looking for ready-to-share family resources
This toolkit supports a positive mealtime environment. If your child often gags, coughs, or chokes, or eats very few foods, talk with your pediatrician or a feeding therapist.
Created by Christine Miroddi Yoder, MA, SLP
Christine is a pediatric feeding therapist, the founder of Foodology Feeding Therapy, and the author of Mealtime Mindset: How Changing Your Mindset Changes Mealtimes.
These are the games and phrases she uses with families every week, gathered into one toolkit you can use at home tonight.
Four guides. One calmer, more playful table.
- 101 Ways to Make Food Fun, organized by food stage
- What to Say Instead: scripts for eight tough moments
- 50 Positive Things You Can Say at Mealtimes
- Fun Ways to Talk About Food, from infancy to age 11 and up
- Bonus: 9 printable food bingo boards
Questions
Is this printed or digital?
Digital. You'll download four PDF guides and the bingo boards right after checkout. Read them on your phone or print the pages you want on the fridge.
What ages is it for?
The activities and phrases work for toddlers through school-age kids. Fun Ways to Talk About Food is organized by developmental stage, from infancy to age 11 and up, so you can pick language that fits your child.
Do I need special supplies?
No. Most activities use everyday kitchen items like yogurt, pasta, fruit, cookie cutters, and ziplock bags.
Isn't playing with food a bad habit?
For a cautious eater, play is how learning starts. Touching, smelling, and exploring food without pressure builds the comfort that makes tasting possible. You can set the play times and keep regular meals calm and predictable.
Will this help a child with ARFID or severe picky eating?
The pressure-free approach and language are helpful for any family. Children with ARFID or severe picky eating usually also need individualized support from a feeding therapist. Not sure where your child falls? Take the Picky Eater's Test.
Can teachers and therapists use it?
Yes. The guides are written for parents, teachers, and feeding professionals, and work well for classrooms, therapy sessions, and sharing ideas with families.
Swap the standoff for something fun.
Get the toolkit for $11© 2026 Foodology Feeding Therapy. All Rights Reserved. This toolkit is an educational resource and does not replace medical or feeding therapy care.
